Petunia plant named ‘USTUN60501’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Petunia  plant named ‘USTUN60501’, characterized by its compact, outwardly spreading to trailing plant habit; freely branching habit; vigorous growth habit; early and freely flowering habit; dark violet-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Petunia×hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘USTUN60501’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant, botanically known as Petunia×hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘USTUN60501’.

The new Petunia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan and Bonsall, Calif. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely-branching and uniformly mounding Petunia plants with early and freely flowering habit, unique attractive flowers and good garden performance.

The new Petunia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor on May 6, 2011 in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan of Petunia×hybrida ‘Surfinia Cutie Blue’, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary seedling selection of Petunia×hybrida identified as code number 11PJ03, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Petunia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Bonsall, Calif. on May 24, 2012.

Asexual reproduction of the new Petunia plant by vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Bonsall, Calif. since May 26, 2012 has shown that the unique features of this new Petunia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Petunia have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘USTUN60501’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘USTUN60501’ as a new and distinct Petunia plant:

-   -   1. Compact, outwardly spreading to trailing plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit.     -   3. Vigorous growth habit.     -   4. Early and freely flowering habit.     -   5. Dark violet-colored flowers.     -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the female parent, ‘Surfinia Cutie Blue’. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Bonsall, Calif., plants of the new Petunia differ primarily from plants of ‘Surfinia Cutie Blue’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia are more spreading than and not as         upright as plants of ‘Surfinia Cutie Blue’.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia are more vigorous than plants of         ‘Surfinia Cutie Blue’.     -   3. Plants of the new Petunia and ‘Surfinia Cutie Blue’ differ in         flower color as plants of ‘Surfinia Cutie Blue’ have light         blue-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Bonsall, Calif., plants of the new Petunia differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia are more spreading and mounding         than and not as creeping as plants of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia and the male parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection         have bluish purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of ‘USTUN29801’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,883. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Bonsall, Calif., plants of the new Petunia differed primarily from plants of ‘USTUN29801’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia flowered earlier than plants of         ‘USTUN29801’.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia were more freely flowering than         plants of ‘USTUN29801’.

Plants of the new Petunia can also be compared to plants of ‘KEIlavbu’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,542. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Petunia differed primarily from plants of ‘KEIlavbu’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia were more spreading and mounded         than and not as creeping as plants of ‘KEIlavbu’.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia had smaller flowers than plants of         ‘KEIlavbu’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Petunia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Petunia plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘USTUN60501’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘USTUN60501’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the spring in 11.5-cm containers in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse and subsequently in an outdoor nursery in Bonsall, Calif. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 24° C. and night temperatures ranged from 13° C. to 16° C. Plants were pinched two times and were six weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Petunia×hybrida ‘USTUN60501’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Petunia×hybrida ‘Surfinia Cutie             Blue’, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of             Petunia×hybrida identified as code number 11PJ03, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 15 days             at temperatures ranging from 16° C. to 29° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 20 days             at temperatures ranging from 16° C. to 21° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, outwardly spreading to             trailing plant habit; freely branching habit with about ten             primary lateral branches with multiple secondary lateral             branches developing per plant; dense and bushy appearance;             pinching enhances development of lateral branches; vigorous             growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 15 cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 34 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 19 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Internode length: About 1.5 cm. Strength: Strong. Aspect:             Initially upright then outwardly spreading. Texture:             Pubescent. Color: Close to 146A. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate before flowering; opposite after             flowers develop; leaves simple.         -   Length.—About 3.6 cm.         -   Width.—About 1.8 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptical.         -   Apex.—Broadly acute.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent; glandular.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate, arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A; venation,             close to 146C. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 146B; venation, close to 146C.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 9 mm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent; minute. Color,             upper surface: Close to 146B. Color, lower surface: Close to             147C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single axillary salverform             flowers; flowers face mostly upward to outwardly; freely             flowering habit with about twelve open flowers per lateral             branch and more than 250 flowers developing per plant.         -   Natural flowering season.—Long day responsive; long             flowering period, plants flower from early spring until             frost in the autumn, flowering continuous during this             period; early flowering habit, plants begin flowering about             four to six weeks after planting.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About four to five days;             flowers persistent.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 3.3 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm.             Shape: Oblong. Color: Close to N77C.         -   Flower diameter.—About 3.4 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 4.2 cm.         -   Throat diameter, distal.—About 8 mm.         -   Tube length.—About 3 cm.         -   Tube diameter, proximal.—About 3 mm.         -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five petals fused in a             single salverform whorl. Petal lobe length (from throat):             About 1.5 cm. Petal lobe width: About 1.6 cm. Petal lobe             shape: Fan-shaped. Petal lobe apex: Broadly acute. Petal             lobe margin: Entire. Petal lobe texture, upper surface:             Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Petal lobe texture, lower             surface: Mostly smooth with scattered minute pubescence.             Throat texture: Smooth, glabrous. Tube texture: Pubescent.             Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 83A. When             opening, lower surface: Close to 79D. Fully opened, upper             surface: Close to 83B; venation, close to 83A; color does             not change with development. Fully opened, lower surface:             Close to 86C; venation, close to 83B. Flower throat             (inside): Close to 83A; venation, close to 79A. Flower tube             (outside): Close to N92A; venation, close to 79A.         -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five sepals fused in a             single star-shaped whorl. Length: About 1.4 cm. Width: About             2 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Rounded. Margin: Entire.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent; minute. Color,             upper surface: Close to 146A. Color, lower surface: Close to             146B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2.2 cm. Width: About 1 mm. Angle:             About 45° from the stem axis. Strength: Strong. Texture:             Pubescent; minute. Color: Close to 146C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Five.             Filament length: About 1.8 cm. Filament color: Close to 84C.             Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther shape: Oval. Anther color:             Close to 91A. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close             to 94B. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length:             About 1.9 cm. Style length: About 1.6 cm. Style color: Close             to 145D. Stigma shape: Round. Stigma color: Close to N77A.             Ovary color: Close to 145A.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development has not been             observed on plants of the new Petunia. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Petunia have not been     noted to be resistant to pathogens or pests common to Petunia     plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Petunia have been observed to     have good garden performance and have been observed to tolerate     rain, wind and temperatures ranging from about 1° C. to about 40° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Petunia plant named ‘USTUN60501’ as illustrated and described. 